I almost exclusively do civilian models (or military models that can be used as ones) at 1:32/1:35 scales.
Finding civilian model kits is a hard task! Even more finding reasonnably recent and affordable ones at the scales I’m interested in! If I could convince makers to produce some this year, here is a wishlist!
I guess they’re just reboxings of the long OOP Heller “ClicClac” series ones. They’re supposed to be 1/35th scale and probably require “some” work to improve the “toylike” look, but they’re rather cheap compared to the original ones (more than 100€ on eBay…)
The civilian model kit market really needs to modernize from the 1980s and 1990s civilian vehicle model designs. I’ll start with truck and vans that can really contribute to modeling the logistics, cargo, utility, emergency vehicles, and government agencies’ vehicles.
A 1/24 and 1/35 2025 Ford E-350 or F-350 ambulance with box body.
I like that! Yes, too many civilian kits are getting quite old (all the Arii ones for instance), or are made out of resin ($$$), or are simply way too expensive for styrene IMO (e.g. Aoshima).
My understanding is that brand licences are too expensive. Or is the market deemed too small? Dunno
Both. The licensing may be a problem, but I think it’s also the modeling technology as decades ago, American model kits often lagged behind European and Asian model kits in that kids didn’t want to pay that much for a model kit. Asia teems with model kits, born from the Anime cartoons and Gundam robot craze so Asian modeling technology progressed to the point that their plastic kits often fit perfectly. In the USA, sports and video games predominate and hobbies such as R/C, railroad, model kits, doll collecting, etc. took a far backseat. Now 3D printing is rising, but 3D printing can’t have the intricate or clear plastic parts such as those found in plastic model kits.
The Ford Type II Transit van, and those tall vans in Europe of similar design, have really reshaped the industry because this tall van design allows a person to stand up inside without having to crouch down to attend to a patient or cargo. Before, it required an ambulance box body truck to allow a person to stand up inside as van designs were often too low for many decades. Now the same footprint of a tall van can be used for an ambulance or walk-in vehicle.
I don’t recall that there ever was a modern bucket truck pickup ever made as a plastic model kit.
Scale Hobbyist currently has 75 “Model Cars” available in 1/35 scale. The category includes some military vehicles but mostly consists of civilian cars, trucks, and construction vehicles. That is really great and I hope civilian vehicles in 1/35 scale become much more popular.
I thought about this topic for a while. My build rate is not very high so there is a lot of competition for workshop time. I decided on two things that would cause me to make an immediate purchase. Model must be injection molded, 1/35 scale, done by a high end company, have hard plastic tires, be designed for ease of build, and cost $30 US or less.
1968 Corvette. The exact year is not important but I want the body style introduced in 1968. The model needs to include an engine and all the guts of the machine. The hood needs to open. Bonus points if the model includes a Blower. I do not need chrome parts. It needs to have hard plastic tires.
Modern Top Fuel Dragster. The exact machine is not important. In needs to have hard plastic tires.
